Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-25
EARLY AMERICAN BISHOPS.
objections OF the Colonies To Ap-
pointees from England-Dean
Swift as n Candidate

The conservation of the first bishop
of New York, which took place in Lon.
don one hundred wears ago day before
yesterday says The New York. Herald,
naturally forms one of the most interest
ing and important anniversaries of the
Protestant Episcopal church in Ameri-
Gu. While the story of the growth of
that church in this country may be n
familiar one to clcrgymen and others
who have given special attention to it,
most people will mildly wonder why
so long time elapsed between the
settlement of the American colonies by
Englishmen and the conservation of
their first bishop. Ii is not strange
that puritan New England should have
been an unpromising soil into which
to transplant bishop of the Establish
cd Church of England, but this objec-
ton did not apply to New York. Dele
ware, Virginia, or the Carolinas, while
the tolerance shown 10y the Quakers in
Pennsylvania left an equally open field
in that colony. Yet the first American
bishop consecrated was Connecticut
man. and he presided over his Connec-
ticut diocese for more than two years
before the other colonies had bishops
supplied to thcm
As far back is 1883 Archbishop Laud.
having previously sent the Rev. Will
liam Mored to Plymouth settlement to
superintend ecesiastc cal affairs in New
England. set on foot n scheme for send
ing bishops TO the colonies. The Scot
fish rebellion put quietus to this
scheme the church being in too much
danger ut home to do much to extend
its influence abroad. Shortly after the
restoration an attempt was made to
send bishop to Virginia Rev. Alex
auder Murray, who had been the kings
companion in oXile was made a bishop.
and u patent was made out-but not
fully eXecutol-constttt ing him bishop
OF Virginia with general charge over
the other colonies. This uncXecuted
patent was long preserved in London,
but has since been lost. There is reas-
on to bel eve that an attempt to send II
bishop TO Massachusetts had nearly sue
ccedcd ten years before Murray's nom
mat on. When Lord Clarenden's min
istry went out of Office Murray's hope
of preferment was gone.
In 1909 Dean Swift, who was coquet-
ting with politics for what he could
make, cast his eye upon Virginia rs an
eligible site for diocese. His friend
Col Hunter, having after various vIcis-
itudcS become governor OF New York
wrote TO Swift. rs follows: IL have pur-
chased n seat for bishop.
You once upon day gave me hope
OF seeing YOU there. 1t would be no
small relief to me TO have so good n
friend to complain to- Who can tell
what might have followed the appoint
ment of the brill ant but erratic dean As
first bishop OF America? 1t is fair to
say. however, that whatever might
have been the hopes and plans OF Swift
and his friends in this matter, there
does not appear to have been any in
, tention at court to give him the APP
pointment,
During all these years, while there
was steady demand on the part Of
some churchmen in America for the
appointment of a bishop, the general
sentiment was opposed, not only to the
sending stranger in that capacity,
but even TO the selection of an Amer
lean for the place. Thus, when the
clergy of Mary land chose Rev, Mr..
ColeDatch to 90 to England o be conse-
Grated writ of nc cGent was obtained
from the general court and a. he was
prevented from going TO be cOnsccra
ted the nom nation came TO naught.
There was widespread fear that a
bishop would Cypress the clergy and
interfere in the private affairs of the
laity and so strong was this feeling that
az the convention of 1770, held at Nor
walk, Conn. n comm ttee was instruct
cd TO gather and report accounts Of OPP
preston by the cpiscopacy in England
and elsewhere. The supposed inten-
ton Of the crown to force a bishop
upon the church in America without
regard to the wshes of the people was
prolific cause of controversy and strife
for many years, and some of the tracts
issued were rather amusing than con-
vincng. Onc was illustrated by cut
showing n sh p conta ming bishop be-
ing pushed OF from shore BY people
with poles, while the frightened bishop
and his friends were praying earnestly
for deliverancc from such inhospitable
hosts.
1t is hard at this day to comprehend
the objections and fears raised by the
proposition to consecrate bishops for
America. II was not confined to dis
scnters; indeed. toward the last the Bit
tcrost opposition was almost wholly